A Guide to the Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker Papers,
1878-1938

The collection documents the personal
life of Anna Pennybacker, as well as her involvement in women's clubs, education,
suffrage and the peace movement. Pennyback was an activist and author in Texas in
the early 20th century.

Anna Pennybacker, nee Hardwicke (1861-1938), activist and author, was born in
Virginia and moved first to Kansas and then to Texas in 1878. She married Percy V.
Pennybacker in 1884 in Tyler, Texas. They had four children, one of whom died in
infancy. She lived in Tyler and Palestine and moved to Austin in 1900 after the
death of her husband. She remained there until her death. Pennybacker wrote and
published A New History of Texas for Schools, which was
adopted by the Texas Legislature for use in public schools from 1898 through 1913.
Pennybacker was also active in women's club activities, serving as president of the
Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, and as president and then board member of the
General Federation of Women's Clubs. A pacifist and suffragist, she was involved in
the Chautauqua movement and served as a correspondent for several newspapers at the
League of Nations meetings in Geneva. She also lectured extensively across the
nation.

Correspondence, printed material, financial documents, legal documents, literary
productions scrapbooks, maps and photographs document the personal life of Anna
Pennybacker, as well as her involvement in women's clubs, education, suffrage and
the peace movement. The bulk of the material is correspondence relating to all
aspects of Pennybacker's life. Correspondents include William Hobby, Elisabet Ney,
Thomas Campbell, Carrie Chapman Catt and Eleanor Roosevelt. The papers document
Pennybacker's authorship and publication of The New History of
Texas for Schools and her activities in the Texas Federation of Women's
Clubs, the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Chautauqua Women's Club.
Papers of John Hardwicke, her father; Percy Pennybacker, her husband; and Julian
Pennybacker, her mother-in-law, are also included.